Tubular coupling and method of constructing the same



Aug. 4,1931. H.:.slPE A, 1,817,774

TUBULAR COUPLING AND METHOD OF CONSTRUGTING THE SAME 1 Filed May 2.1928

33 f BY 'PatentedAug `4, '1.931

UNITED STA-'TES -PA'IEN'I OFFICE vHARRY E sIPE, or New Yonx. N. y.

TUBULAB COUPLING .AN D METHOD OF CONSTRUCTIN G THE SAIE l Applicationfiled l-Iay 2,

T hisV invention relates to couplings employed for securing pipes,tubings, rods and the like together; and the object of the invention istoprovide a coupling of the class speciied employing as part of thecoupling element, a body of yielding material such for example as rubberor a composition including rubber and more particularly to an element ofthis class including projecting members forming corresponding recesseson one face or surface thereof, said projecting members being adapted to'Hex and be placed in operationv in the use of the coupling topsecurelycouple two or more bodies together;ay Jfurther obj ect being to includein conjunction with said coupling element, one or more flange portionsengaging' the edge wall of one member to be coupled or a coupling sleeveor tube emplo ed in conjunction with the element; a furt er object beingto provide a coupling element of the class described cwhich ispreferably fashioned from an elongated strlp cut into the desired lengthand folded or coiled to form a tubular or sleevelike body insertableinto one part to be coupled or employed on the inner wall of a tubularcoupling body; and with these and other objects in view, the linventionconsists in a couplin of Vthe class and or the pur se a0 specilie whichis constructed and use in acordance with my improved method, and whichis more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

rlhe invention is fully disclosed in the iollowing specication, of whichthe accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of myimprovement are desi nated by suitable referencecharacters in eac of theviews, and in which '1, but

Fig. 1 is a cross sectlonal view of one form.

192s. seran No. 274,390.

Fig. 5 is la detail viewof a segment or part cut from an elongated'stripfrom Which one form of my improved coupling element is formed.

Fig. 6 isa view similar'.4 to Fig. 5 but showu ing the other form ofelement which I employ; and, i

Fig. 7 is a sectional, detail view showin a. modified structure in thepipes 'or tu 'es which are coupled.

In carrying my invention into effect, I provide either one .of two typesof coupling elements constructed from elastic, resilient or yieldablebodies preferably composed of rubber or composition rubber. In Fig. 5 g5y of the drawings, I have shown at 10, one of the coupling bodies whichI employ in anI extended position, and have diagrammatically illustratedthe method of its construction, the-body 10 being severed from an 7oelon ated ribbon-like strip of material, whic is cut ofi' transverselyto-form the element 10 or a number of such elements 10a, representing indotted lines, aportion of the remainder of the strip from which the ele-15 ment 10 is cut. One vface of the elementl 10 is provided with twosets of longitudinally arranged ribelike members 11 and 12 disposed atopposite side portions of the element 10, each of said ribs having upperper- @a pendicular walls and inclined or beveled Walls, saidinclined.walls of the ribs 11 and 12 being both directed to the central portionof the element. The sides of the element are also provided. with flan es11a and 12a as which extend or project at t e opposite side face of saidelement. The outer surfaces of" said flanges are preferably rounded asseen at 13. 'After the element 10 has been formed in a@ the manner seenin Fig. 5 and when it is desired to use the same vas a part of acoupling,

it is inserted into a coupling sleeve or tube 14 such as seen in Fig. 1,by bringing the ends 15--15a of the element together within c5 thesleeve 14 in an abutting relation and preferably 'under a slighttensionbr compression of the walls of. the element 10, thle intersectionand abutment of said end por- -tions being seen at the left of Fig. 1 ofthe 100 drawings. The transverse the element or the distan between thevflanges 11a and 12a are such as to engagev the laoement of theelement10 with reference o thecoupling sleeve 14, Y The coupling is n'o'wready' :for use, and asseen at t e right otFig. 1 of the 'drawings 10 apipe, bar, rodor'the like 16 may be inserte into one end of thecoupling.4 In this op- 1 that in inserting either one of the pipesvrods,

eration, the projecting members 12 are flexed and placed undercompression, being so coni structed as to form a substantially solidmass 15 vof the flexed and com ressed element 10 as seen at 1 in sai iiure.

It will be understood that the inside 'di-am I eter of the element 10includin the members 12 thereon, as well as the mem ers 11 is less i0than the outside diameter of the pipe, rod or the like 16. If desired,rubber cement or otherI similar substance maybe applied to the pipe 16in the operation of inserting the same in roper position in the 'couplinto E5 provide or an easier action or the exer ion of less ressure inthis operation, but the use ofstliis, uuid is not necessary.

The ot er ipe or member18 to be connected with t e coupling is indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawin and this member'is inserteflin.the same ashion and operates to flex the members 11 inthe same manneras the flexing of the members 12. When both arts or tubes 16 and 18 arein l5 proper position, they are retained against displacementJ from thecoupling due to the ile ure and com ression of the members 11 and 12. Atthis imc, it is to be understood that my invention is not necessarilylimited to the specific structure or arrangement of the mem- -bers 11and 12 herein shown 4and described, in connection with the structureshown in Fig. 1 or in any of the other iigures.

Fig. 3 of the drawings., I. have shown a modification ofthe structureshown in Fig.

1, wherein a coupling element 19 representn j one half of the structureshown 1n Figs.

and 5 is'employed, said element havin a .projecting flange 20 at one endadapte to en age one edge wall of a pipe or tube 21 to coupled withanother pi e, tube orrod 22 indicated in dotted lines 1n said iigue. Theelement 19 is made in strip form the same as the element 10, andincludes one set of inwardly projecting rib members 19a which lareadapted to be flexed and placed under compression in the operation ofinserting the part 22 into the part 21. The intersection of the ends ofthe element 19 is seen at 19o. Ir Figsf2 andg of the drawings, I haveshown a modification of the structure shown in Fi s. 1 and 5, wherein acoupling clement 23 fas ioned from a stri in the same manner as theformation of the e ement 10 is provided on its outerwall with 4two setsof projecting Cimensions of.

ortions of thel rib members 24 and 25. Theinclined walls of these ribmembers, instead of bein `directed to the central, yortion of the couping element are directe outwardl' and oppositely to the side edges ofsaid e ement. In this construction, theoutwardly extending flanges 24aand 25a extend in the same direction as the members 24 and 25, andengage the end walls of the tubular coupling 26 as seen in Fig. 2 ofthedrawings.

n this construction, 1t will be understood or the like 27-27 a, the pipe27 bemg s own in full linesand. thepipe 27a in dotted lines, the inwardmovement of said ipes into the coupling and in engaging the inner wallsof the element 23 will operate to place the members 24 and 25 undercompresslon in the manner seen at the right of Fig. 2 of the drawings,it being understood that the inside diameter of the element 23 is lessthan the outside diameter of the pipes 27-27a. The exposed ends of theelement 23 are'preterably rounded adjacent the inside diameter to permitof the free insertion of the pipes 27 and 27 a.

-It will be understood that the movement of said pipes will advance thebody of rubber employed in the element 23 toacroln lishthe result abovestated. The intermediate section of the element 23 is slightly recessedas seen at 28 but is of a greater body in thickness thanthe sections ofsaid element provided with the rods 24 and 25 to form a stop wall orbody portion which will build up and resist to a degree further inwardmovement of either of the pipes 27--27o.. The same result is accom)lished in the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 5 by thc enlarged centralportion 10b.

In F ig. 4 of the drawings, I have shown at 29 al cou )ling elementwhich constitutes one half ofthe element 23 shown in Figs. 2 and 6 ofthe drawings, which is used in substantially the same manner as theelement 19 shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The olement 29 has externalrib vmembers 29a engaglng the inner wall of an enlarged portion 30 onone pi )e 30a tobe coupled with anotherv pipe 3l indicated in doitedlines in said figure. The flange 2911 of the clement 29 engages the edgeof the 'enlargcnu-.nt 30. It will be understood that the olomcnt19 maybo. used in conjunction with a pipe structure such as soon in Fig. 4,und in like manner, the clement 2Q muy bo used in tho manner .soon inFig. 3. In Fig. 4 ofthe drawings, the intersection of thcronds of thcstrip from which the elena-,nt 29 is formed is .soon at 32. In Fig.- 7of thc drawings, I have shown n art of the coupling lo .shown in Fig. l,und including :l pnrt of th(l sleeve I4 olnployod in securing two pipesor tubos 33 and 34 together, the only difference boing that the pipes ortubos 33 and f-ll havi.l interlocking or overlapping portions. Tinl pipo33 has n rr lll tion or recess 34a in t e pipe 34, thus forming anoverlapped joint between the pipes 33 and 34 withinthe coupling formedby the element 10 or -thetube or sleeve 14. j

It will vbe understood that the several forms of couplings disclosed maybe'used for securing two pipes, rods or the like, or a pipe and a rodin'piping of-.various kinds and classes or in' tubular structures .orframeworks and still further in. rod structures or acombination vof rodand tube structures for any desired use; and it willv also be understoodthat my invention is 'not necessarily Alimited to any particular crosssectional form of the tubes or rods andthe couplings emloyed inconnection therewith. The mere act that the same' are shown circular'invthe present construction, does not necessarlly l o wless than theoutside dlameter of the pipeslimit my invention in this respect.

The distinctive feature of my invention resides in the provision of acoupling mvolvs ging-an element or body of rubber or other yieldingmaterial and a substantially rigidv body or sleeve, andin someinstances, thisV rigid body may constitute an integral part of one ofthe-members to be coupled as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of thedrawings, and

articularly to the formation of the yleldng body or element from anelongated strip, and folding and coiling the body in its placement inthe rigid body.y constituting a part of the coupling. It will beunderstood that various changes in and' modifications of theconstruction herein showmand described may be f made within the scope ofthe *appended claims without departing from the spirit of mglinventionor sacrificing its advanta e's.

aving fully described my invention, w at I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coupling of the class described, a couplin body of yieldingmaterial in the form o a strip having transversely spaced projectin` ribmembers on one side face thereof, t e ends of said strip being adaptedto be brought together in forming a coupling body thereof, the 'ribmembers at one side portion of said body being inclined in a directionopposite to that of the rib members at the other side edge of said body,and the side edges of said body having projecting flanges, the outersurfaces of which are rounded.

2. in a coupling of the class described, a tubular coupling body ofyielding material, one surface of said body having longitudinally spacedand circumferentially arranged rib members, the rib members at one sideof said-body beingb inclined in a direction opposite to the ri membersat the other side thereof, a coupling sleeve in which said body ismounted, andthe end portions of said body having outwardly extendinganges en- 3. In a coupling of the class described, a I

tubular coupling body of ielding material,

one surface of said body aving longitudi-A nally spaced andcircumferentially arranged rib members, the rib members'at one sideofsaid body being inclined in a direction opposite to the rib members atthe other iside thereof, a coupling sleeve in which said body isvmounted, thel end portions ofsaid body having outwardly extendingflanges engaging the end walls of said coupling sleeve, and

the centraLpotion of said body being of.

slightl greater thickness than the thickness of the body intermediatethe separate ribs.

4. A pipe coupling of the class described comprising a coupling sleeve,a split tubular body of yielding material mounted with-l in said sleeveand constituting a lining therefor, the inside diameter of said bodybeing to be coupled'therewith, and one' surface of said tubular bodyhaving a plurality of lon-v gitudinally spaced projectingmembers in-*clined in opposite directions at/the opposite sides thereof and adaptedto be flexed and to be placed under compression in theinser? tion ofpipes into the opposite ends of said coupling in the operation. ofcoupling said pipes.

5. A pipe coupling of the class described comprising a vcoupling sleeve,a .split tubu lar body of yielding material mounted with.

in said sleeve and coxfstilituting a lining therefor, the insidediameter of said body being less than the oltside diameter of the pipestov be coupled therewith and one surface of said tubular body havinglongitudinally spaced projecting members inclined inopposite directionsat the opposite sides thereof and adapted to be flexed and to be lacedunder compression in the insertion o pipesV into the opposite endsv ofsaid coupling in the operation of coupling said pipes, and said couplingbody including outwardly project'- ing ianges adapted to engage the endsof said coupling sleeve.

, 6. A coupling for securing two parts together comprising an elementcom osed of yielding material in the form offa a strip, one surface ofsaid strip having a p urality of longitudinally spaced and projectingmembers, said strip being adapted to be shaped to fit between adjacentwalls of said parteA rejecting members to be coupled, and the on lonesurface of said e ement being adapted to be flexed and placed undercompression in coupling said parts together.

7. A coupling for `securing two parts to-` gether comprising an elementycom osed of yielding material in the formof a at strip, one surface ofsai-d strip having a plurality of longitudinally spaced and projectingmembers, said strip being adapted to be shaped to lit between adjacentwalls of said'parts 65 gaging the end walls of said coupling sleeye. tobe coupled, the` projecting members 130 on one surface ofsnd elementbeing udaptl ed to be Hexed and placed under com resA v sion in couplinsaid parte together, 'an seid SIR 'SIB

element includmgtl projectngflenge at one end thereof adapted to engageone end Well of one of said parts.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signedkmy name th1s 25th dey of April, 192s. e

HARRY E. SIPE.

